Vehicle seat assembly with energy managing member

A vehicle seat assembly for use with a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• a seat cushion frame adapted to be installed in the vehicle;
• a support bracket having an attachment location attached to the seat cushion frame, the support bracket further having an aperture disposed proximate to the attachment location;
• a recliner mechanism attached to the support bracket;
• and
• a seat back frame connected to the recliner mechanism such that the seat back frame is pivotable with respect to the seat cushion frame;
• wherein the support bracket is configured to plastically deform proximate the aperture when a sufficient rearward force is applied to the seat back frame, so as to inhibit rebound of the seat back frame as the rearward force diminishes.

A vehicle seat assembly for use with a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• a seat cushion frame adapted to be installed in the vehicle;
• first and second sacrificial, energy managing support brackets that each have first and second attachment locations attached to the seat cushion frame, each support bracket further having first and second ends and multiple folds disposed generally between the ends;
• first and second recliner mechanisms respectively attached to the first and second support brackets;
• and
• a seat back frame connected to the recliner mechanisms such that the seat back frame is pivotable with respect to the seat cushion frame;
• wherein each support bracket is configured to plastically deform proximate the folds when a sufficient rearward force is applied to the seat back frame, so as to inhibit rebound of the seat back frame as the rearward force diminishes and to inhibit structural damage to the recliner mechanisms and the seat back frame.